the elitism in this thread is pretty awful.
As a Deep South Rube, I usually try not to encourage this sort of behavior on the Atlas, but this is one of those cases where I am more than willing to play the part.
Shows like this serve no purpose other than to appeal to a stereotype in American society, whether that be the people who do in fact fit this so-called mold or those who find it amusing or cute to observe such people in their "natural habitat". It reinforces perceptions that rural folk - particularly rural Southern folk - are all like these individuals. Not only is this not true, but it is disingenuous in the fact that the stars of this show are not what they play on television. Sure, they may have our accents, dress like poor white trash, grow ridiculous beards and may come from this part of the country, but make no mistake: they are millionaire businessfolk who pander to a particular subset of the population in order to make money off of it. Screw every last one of them.
They act like rednecks because it is good for business. Just like Jeff Foxworthy, Larry the Cable Guy and others, they are not as they appear, and they disgust me. At least Honey Boo Boo et al are actually as they appear and did not start playing it on TV to boost their already booming business enterprises. I'm sure that the poor, gullible rubes will eat this latest spat up, too, by buying stupid duck calls, bandanas and all of the other ridiculous garbage that is being peddled in every store it seems these days.
Despite this imminent financial boom that they'll experience, at the very least, I'll take solace in knowing that one of two things will happen:
1) Their show will be ultimately cancelled
2) The pearl-clutching Christians who are whining about this will ultimately fold on their principles and begin watching A&E again
